The Northland College Softball split a doubleheader with Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minn.  The Purple Storm took the first game 13-8 while Northland prevailed 7-6 in the nightcap.  This moves the LumberJills to 8-2 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play.
 
Northland got on the board early in the first game scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.  Kaitlyn Witthun (So., Cambria, Wis.) started the game with a lead off single and moved to third on Jayna Loy's (Sr., Ontario, Calif.) double.  Following a walk to Cassie Baumgarten (So., Becker, Minn.), Faye Koosmann (So., Mellen, Wis.) singled home Witthun.  After a fielder's choice, Carolyn Malecha (Jr., Belle Plaine, Minn.) ripped a two out double plating Koosmann and Baumgarten.
 
Crown however exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the second.  The Storm recorded eight hits and sent 12 batters to the plate in the frame.  Northland closed the gap to 8-5 in the fourth when Brigid Reina (Jr., Garden City N.Y.) who singled and Kelsey Bodart (So., Oconto, Wis.) who walked scored on a double by Witthun.
 
After Crown extended their lead to 10-5 with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, the LumberJills pulled to within two when Loy blasted a three run home run in the sixth scoring.  That was as close as Northland would get as Crown added three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Jills again scored in the top of the first inning in game two.  Witthun led off the game with a hit for the second time, she later scored on a Koosmann single to give Northland a 1-0 lead.  Crown gained a 4-1 lead with three runs in the third and one in the fourth.  Northland then pulled to within one in the fifth when Reina started the inning with a single and later scored on a wild pitch and Bodart singled and scored on a Baumgarten single.
 
Heading into the top of the seventh down a run, pinch hitter Briana Tody (Fr., Ashland, Wis.) ripped a single.  She was lifted for pinch runner Sarah Hudson (Sr., Santa Barbara, Calif.) who promptly stole second.  After Witthun drew a walk, Loy doubled both runners home to give the Jills a 5-4 lead.  Baumgarten then reached on a fielder's choice in which no one was put out and three batters later Crystal Diaz (Fr., Burbank, Calif.) hit a two out double to put the Jills up three.  This would turn out to be important as Crown rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Diaz picked up the win for Northland, striking out seven while going the distance.
 
"One big inning killed us in that first game." Said Head Coach Steve Wammer, "However I was happy with how we bounced back in game two and pulled the come from behind win."
 
Loy tied Kylie Garing for the LumberJills career doubles record in the first game and then claimed first place by herself with her double in the seventh inning of game two.  Loy also tied Steph Wilkinson for the top spot on the Northland all time home run list in the first game.
 
Game One Box
 
Game Two Box